Irish Dragons’ Den star Ramona Nicholas, who also heads up Cara Pharmacy, will be the motivational speaker and MC at this year’s prestigious Fermanagh Herald Business Awards, run in association with 02, Belmore Street, Enniskillen.
In their second year, the Business Awards is Fermanagh’s leading forum for acknowledging and rewarding local business determination and success. The prestigious gala awards night will take place in the Manor House Hotel on Friday 11th October 2013.
Secret Millionaire
Ramona Nicholas, who originates from Ardboe in Tyrone, has starred on RTE’s Dragons’ Den show over the last year, is a co-founder of the Cara Pharmacy group, which set up in September 2002 and this year was the first Irish Female Entrepreneur on the RTE series, ‘The Secret Millionaire.’
Having studied Pharmacy in Queens University, Ramona also invested in the property market at 20 years of age, the profits from the sale of her first home were used to part finance the purchase of her first business, which she acquired at the age of 24.
Since setting up Cara Pharmacy, with her now husband Canice, the business has experienced an extensive expansion phase through organic growth and acquisition. The group now owns 12 Pharmacies including one in Kesh and 2 CARA HOME stores. This brand alone has future plans for expansion into greenfield sites throughout the nation, as does Cara Pharmacy.
Ramona is well aware of the benefits to entering awards initiatives, having won numerous awards such as ‘Deloitte Best Managed Company 2011 & 2012’, in the Final 3 Companies in Ireland in the REI Company of the Year Award, under the category of Industry Leaders and the Final 3 in e-Commerce under the category of Innovation.
Self-made entrepreneur
A classic, self-made entrepreneur, Ramona is not afraid to take chances and work hard to make these commercially fruitful successes. Ramona remains abreast of modern retail successes and takes a particular interest in online retailing and the role of social media in promoting modern day business. She is extremely competitive and will ensure that everything she puts her touch on becomes a success in every way.
Maurice Kennedy, Fermanagh Herald editor, was delighted with the coup of securing Ramona for the Business Awards
“Ramona Nicholas epitomises success. She has done it all herself, the hard way and is also a working mother. Her business continues to grow and she has lit up the Dragons’ Den on RTE. The Business Awards will certainly benefit from her involvement and we’re all looking forward to hearing what she has to say to all our business people at the awards night.”
Declan Devlin, owner of 02 and principal sponsor of the awards, stated
“It’s a real coup to have secured Ramona Nicholas for the Business Awards and great for Fermanagh and the local business scene. We very much look forward to working with her and the Herald to make the awards a huge success.”